Lubricating means for axles or the like.



' N0. s51,2o1. PATBNTBD APR. 23, 1997; W. LGRBBNING.

LUBRIGATING MEANS PQRY'AXLES 0R THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1906.

. l I (Dual,V attotnu mil sus ca wumamu. n l:4

all whom, 1225 may cm1/cern.:

WILLIAM J. GREEN ING,4 OF M1DDLEl`OWN,v NEW YORK.

lI LJFucA-rme. MEAN'sFoR vAxLEs on TH LIKE.

Specification of Letters. Patent.

Patented April 2S, 1907.

Application filed september 4, 1906. serai No. 333.206.

I e it known that I, WILLIAMJ. GREENING, a citlzen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Orange and State of- N ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsfin- Lubricating Means for Axles or the Like, of which the following is a specification. v

The object of this invention is to provide a novel fornivof lubricating means, which in its preferred adaptation ir particularly designed for accomplishing a thorough and effective lubrication of axles of wheels, but which in the carrying out of its principle of operation, may be used or applied in connection with shafts and rotating bodies such as pulleys or.

wheels mounted thereon as Well as in various other ways. The invention is of tl at type of lubricating `m`eans inclu ding the use of a reservoir to .contain a suitable lubricant such as oil, together with wicking or absorbent material arranged tol apply oil directly to the contacting movable parts and adapted to supply said oil by capil'ary attraction.

Peculiar. means for construction is em- .ployed to regulate the quantity of oil which is fed or supplied to the Arelatively movable axle and wheel, or contactin parts, and such means forms an essentlal eature of the present lnvention. l

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a l knowledge of the details of constructlon of the means for electing the result, reference is to be'liad to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1' is a view in elevation, and partly in section, of 'an axle with an axle box thereon and showing the p racticalembodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 1s a modification of the construction in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4' are further modifications of the invention.

Corresponding and like arts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the-views o the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the invention the numeral 1 indicates an axle havinfr the usual indle 2 the outer `extremity of which is tlireaded as 3 to roceivcthe nut 4.,v Formed longitudinally of the spindle 2 and near its upper portion is a groove or kerf 5 which terminutos-at. oncend near the outer threaded .portion of said spindle. Communicating with the groove 5'is a downwardly 11u-.lined opening' which leads from the inner e'nd o f the' groove to a reservoir 7 beneath the axle 1'-,

or otherwise suitably located, 'said opening 6 being designedI to supply the lubricant which is contained in the reservoir'7 to the .groove 5. The reservoir 7 is adapted to hold a suitable quantity of lubricant suchas oil, to lubricate the axle spindle 2 for a ver -rial such as wickin 8 w ich-is adapted to be supplied with the ubricant by capillary at- `traction, the wickingS extending nearly 'stri ps 9 and 8 is of especial advantage for the throughout the length of the oove 5 terminating a short-distance from t e inner terminal ofsaid roove. i To facilitate the supply o'f the lubricant from the reservoir 7 to the groove 5, itis preferred that the opening 6 be provided with a length of wicking or absorbent material 9. The wickin v9 in the-opening 6, extends upwardly into t e adjacent end ofthe groove' 5, but does not connect with the wicking or absorbent material 8 ordinarily.

The purpose ofthe above arrangement or structure 1s to admit of regulation of the (p iantity of lubricant which is supplied to t e spindle 2 to effectivelynlubricate the same with regard to the axle boxing 10 which is mounted thereon.V Thus should it be desired to increase the quantity of lubricant which is fed to the groove 5, the wicking 8` will be moved longitudinally of said groove, toward the wicking 9 andthus the supply of lubricant between the parts 2 and 10 will be proportionatelyincreased according to the decrease in the distance between the adjacent end portions of the wicking strips 8 and 9.

The oil or lubricant is supplied to the reservoir 7 in lany suitable way andas shown in Fig 1, a vertical screw 11 assing through a vertical opening in the ax e 1,' which opening communicates wlth the reservoir 7, may

-be removed and the lubricant supplied to the reservoir through this opening. The screw 1 1 closes the opening above i'nentioned under normal conditions.

'The peculiar arrangement of the wicking IOC rag

reasons hereinbefore set forth. To prevent' likelihoodof escape of the oil or lubricant from between the axle box 1'0 and the spindle 2, or in other words, in order that there may- 5 be no waste of lubricant or oil, it is contemplaifl that the outer end'of the axle box 1() shall be formed'w-ith a groove 12 annularly thereof and the inner portion of the axle nut 4 Ais adapted to be screwed into firm eii'gage- IO ment with a compressible wasliier 13 receivedv 2O .the latter be sup lied a little too freely, un-v der certain con itions of service and this means includes the provision of washers 14 and 15inte1 osed between the inner ortions of the axleA 0x10 and an annular ange on the s indle 2. The flange 16 is overlapped by a ange 17l on the axle box 10 and the two anges mentioned preclude the' possibility of 4escape of the lubricant, in connection with the washers 14 and 15 and at the same 'time prevent dirt, sand, or rit or similar foreign `extends therefromv to the upper portion of 4 5 the axle at one side of the latter. The upper end -of the tube *18, which is a lubricant or oil conveying tubeJ is in communication with an opening 19 extending horizontally through the annular flange 16 of the spindle,Y near the 5o point at which said flange joins with the spin# le The opening y19 communicates' with the Groove 5 which contains the wicking strip 8. ihe wicking 9 will being @Sed 'in the tube is and willv be so arranged, that the wicking 5 5 strips 9 and 8 are relatively movable to rcguf late the flow of the lubricant between the i Any-suitable supply means may be supplied for rcplenish 1 ing the supply of lubricant to the reservoir 7 axle spindle 2 and the(` box 10.

6o in the construction in Fig. 2.

vention is employed. In this instance-the Therefore the'jreservoir 7 is in.

extending from the outer extremity of the spindle and terminating at its inner end in the body of the axle l.y The outer end o1' thereservoir 2() is closed b y a screw or similar closure 21 and at the inner end the reservoir. 20 is provided with a supply opening extending vertically to the top of tlievaxle 1. and also normally closed by a screw 22, the latter being readily-removable to facilitate the replenis'ning of thefconteiitsof the reserv Voir. Leading 'upwardly' from the inner end portion o f the reservoir 2O -from tnc bod)r of 'the spindle '2 is an opening 23 which is equivalent to the openingv illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 ,and which supplies the lubrif cant to the groove 24 in the upper portion of the spindle 2. The groove 24 is designed to accomplish the same function as the groove 5 in Figs. 1. and 2 andsaid groove 24 may have communication at its outerend with the reservoir 2O by means of -the opening normally closed by a screw or similarclosure 25. In the groove 24 as Well as inthe opening 23, will be arranged wicking strips, relatively movable and performing the same functions as desired with references tothe strips 8 and 9 in the of the invention. he operation and advantages of the construction in Fig.- 3 will be apparent without further description.

ig. 4 illustrates another -niodification which is constructed somewhat on the lines indicated in Fig. 3, exce t that theopening 23 is dispensed with, the ubricant being supplied from the reservoir 20- to the groove 24 intermediate of the ends of the latter. For this purpose an opening 26 leads from the reservoir 20 between the ends of the latter upwardly to an intermediate point in the length of the groove 24 and said opening is threaded vin its length to admit of reception of a short threadedl tube 27 which latter has a .short piece of wicking 28 therein, the tube being notched at'its upper portion to' facili'- tate removal or placing in position thereof. The groove24 contains wicking strips 2Q-and 30, the ends of which terminate adjacent to the opening 2 6 and are movable with respect referred embodiments v TOO log

to saidV opening in order to regulate the.

quantity of lubricant sup lied from the res- 'a passage establishing communication be- In Fig. 3 a further modification of the ini tween the reservoir and .the lubricant reuciving groove, 'a wicking strip, or strip of reservoir being indicated at 2() and boing-v constituted by a longitudinal opening' orI (i5 bore centrally of-tlxe spindle 2, said opening die .Correction in Lettegrs vPatent No.. 851,201.

tween' the grooveand the reservoir, the two strips of absorbent material being relatively 2. In combination, an axle havinga spinrovided with a longitudinal 'lubricant receiving groove, a reservoir forv said lubricant, 'there being an opening inthe body of vthe axle Vextending from the reservoir to the groove of the spindle' and inclined upwardly` in its length, a strip of 'absorbent material arranged in lthe opening last mentioned, and

'a similar strip of absorbent material arranged in the groove of the spindle, the latter being movable relatively to the first mentioned strip of absorbent material to regulate theqluantity of lubricant supplied to the spind e.

3. In means of the class described, the

cembination of an axle having the usual spin* Office.

[SEAL] Signed and'sealed this 28th day of Mary, A. '15 1907.

dle, an oil supply reservoir com rising an` 'or absorbent material in the groove and hav ingr ends thereof adjacent to the wicking in the threaded tube and relatively movable with reference to the Wie/king in said threaded tube.

In testimony Whereofl affn my signature in presencel of .tvvo Witnesses.

LGREENIG.' [In 5.] Witnesses:

JOHN L. WIGGINS, D. WILLIS DUsENBEnRY.

ItV is-hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 851,201, granted April 2.3, 1907, -upon theapplication of William J. Greening, of Middletown, New York, for an 'improvement4 in i Lubricating Means for Axles or the Like, an error appears in the' 'printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 19, page2, the word Water should read waste; and that the said Letters Patent should be read `with this correction therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent E. B'.' MOORE,

A atingV Commissioner of Patents'.

die

.Correction in Lettegrs vPatent No.. 851,201.

tween' the grooveand the reservoir, the two strips of absorbent material being relatively 2. In combination, an axle havinga spinrovided with a longitudinal 'lubricant receiving groove, a reservoir forv said lubricant, 'there being an opening inthe body of vthe axle Vextending from the reservoir to the groove of the spindle' and inclined upwardly` in its length, a strip of 'absorbent material arranged in lthe opening last mentioned, and

'a similar strip of absorbent material arranged in the groove of the spindle, the latter being movable relatively to the first mentioned strip of absorbent material to regulate theqluantity of lubricant supplied to the spind e.

3. In means of the class described, the

cembination of an axle having the usual spin* Office.

[SEAL] Signed and'sealed this 28th day of Mary, A. '15 1907.

dle, an oil supply reservoir com rising an` 'or absorbent material in the groove and hav ingr ends thereof adjacent to the wicking in the threaded tube and relatively movable with reference to the Wie/king in said threaded tube.

In testimony Whereofl affn my signature in presencel of .tvvo Witnesses.

LGREENIG.' [In 5.] Witnesses:

JOHN L. WIGGINS, D. WILLIS DUsENBEnRY.

ItV is-hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 851,201, granted April 2.3, 1907, -upon theapplication of William J. Greening, of Middletown, New York, for an 'improvement4 in i Lubricating Means for Axles or the Like, an error appears in the' 'printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 19, page2, the word Water should read waste; and that the said Letters Patent should be read `with this correction therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent E. B'.' MOORE,

A atingV Commissioner of Patents'.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 851,201, granted April 23, 1907, upon the application of William J. Greening, of Middletown, New York, for an improvement in Lubricating Means for Axles or the Like,7 an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 19, page 2, the word water' should read waste; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oiee.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of Maly, A. D., 1907.

E. B. MOORE, Acting (,bmmz'ssz'oner of Patents.

[sEAn] 

